The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-13
COMMENT OF THE PRESS

COMM EN- DE HE RIsESS
NEW YORK, December 6-Tomorrow's pa
perS will have exhaustive editorial articles on
the presidents message.
Tie Times has not line but praise for the
document.
The World says:
to the democratic party what it has long lacked an
issue and Header The issue is tax reform. The
leader is the president We congratulate the demo-
cratic party and Mr.. Cleveland himself upon his
bold, SPACIOUS and statesmanhke action.
The Sun says
1t is not a commonplace document. for it is sim
pie, Ineligible and coherent; and the quality of
breyiy is chiefly due to the fact that all other topics
of national interest dismissed in lump or post
poned as inconsequential in the presence of one
problem of supreme importance-the question of
tariff revision: We find him betrayed here and
there no doubt uncousciously, into an exhibition of
slight irritation against American man
ufacturers as class, almost if they were
conspirators and public enemies. Beyond recon-
mendation, of the free admission raw materials
and the general principle that necessaries of life,
rather than Inquiries, should be effected, the
president does not undertake to indicate to congress
specific methods upon which tariffreducton should,
long for busy men to read and it is the busy men
of the United States that have the greatest interest
in seeing for themselves just what President Cleve-
land says in this most remarkable, and in some
respects most important document, that he has
produced since his political career began.
The Herald closes its article:
The message will not please extremists of either
side-free-traders or protectionsts. But it WILL
believe please and satisfy the people at large, and
it puts upon both parties in congress the solemn
duty to relieve the country from most serious
danger.
LONDON, December THE Morning Post
commenting on President Cleyeland's mess
age says:
The message will produce profound sensation
in Europe as well as in America and viii strength
en- the free traders case throughout the world
The Daily News says:
seldom has American president had q more
important or impressive lesson to teach. The fact
is that although President Cleveland makes pre-
ton has been reduced to practical and theoretical
absurdity. The stone set rolling will not stop
until the idol of protection is broken in pieces.
MIR. BLAINE'S VIEWS.
NEw York, December THE Tribune's
Paris correspondent cables to that paper re-
port, giving the views of Mr.. Blaine on the
presidents message. Mr. Blaine said to the
Tribune's representative:
Il have been reading an extract of the pres
idents message and have been especially in
terested in the comment of the London papers.
These papers all assume to declare the message
is free-trade manifesto, and evidently are an
ticipating an enlarged market for English
fabrics in the United States rs a consequence
of the presidents recommendations. Perhaps
that fact stamps the character of the message
more clearly than any word of mine cam
"You don't mean actual free trade without
duty?' quered the reporter.
"No," replied Mr.. Blaine. 'Nor do the Lon
don papers mean that. They simply mean that
United States is known as revenue tariff, re-
iecting the protective feature as an object and
not even permitting protection to result freely
as an incident to revenue duties"
81 don't know that / quite comprehend that
last point" said the reporter
81 mean," said Mr.. Blaine, "that for the
first time in the history of the United States
president recommends retaining internal tax
in order that the tariff may be forced down
even below fair revenue standard. He recon-
mends that tax on tobacco be retained and
that many millions annually shall be levied on
the domestic product which would far better
come from a tariff on foreign fabrics"
Mr. Blaine fayors the repeal of the tobacco
tax. He said:
81 should urge that it be done at once. even
before the Christmas holidays 1t would, in
the first place, bring great relief to the growers
of tobacco all over the country, and would,
moreover, materially lessen the price of the
article to consumers Tobacco, to millions of
men, is a necessity. The president calls it a
luxury, but ii is luxury in no other sense
than tea and coffee are Injuries. The only
excuse for such tax is the actual necessity un-
der which the government found itself during
the war and the years Immediately following.
To retain the tax now in order TO destroy pro-
lection which would incidentally follow from
raising the amount of money ON foreign inn
ports Is certainly most extraordinary policy
for our government
"Wen. then, Mr.. Blaine, would you advise
a repeal OF the whisky tax also?,'
mo, l would not Other considerations
than those Of financial administration are TO
he taken into account with regard TO whisky.
There is moral side 10 it. To cheaper the
price Of whisky is 10 increase the
consumption enormously. There would be
little use in urging reform
wrought by high license. In many places in the
national government, 1t would neutralize the